Cuba’s coast guard shot dead four people and wounded six others aboard a U.S.-registered speedboat in an exchange of gunfire off the communist island’s coast, the Interior Ministry said Wednesday.
In a statement, the ministry said a Cuban patrol vessel had approached the Florida-registered boat to identify those on board when shots were fired from the boat, wounding the captain of the Cuban craft.
According to Havana’s statement, the boat was detected within Cuban territorial waters Wednesday morning on the northeast side of the El Pino channel near Cayo Falcones in Villa Clara province.
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Cuban border troops moved in to inspect the vessel, but the “crew of the violating speedboat opened fire,” prompting return fire from Cuban forces.
“As a consequence of the confrontation, as of the time of this report, four aggressors on the foreign vessel were killed and six were injured,” the ministry said, adding that the injured were evacuated and are receiving medical care.
“In the face of current challenges, Cuba reaffirms its determination to protect its territorial waters, based on the principle that national defense is a fundamental pillar of the Cuban State in safeguarding its sovereignty and ensuring stability in the region.”
It also said investigations are ongoing to fully clarify the events.
The Ministry of Interior also released a statement late Wednesday confirming the speedboat was carrying 10 “armed individuals who, according to preliminary statements from the detainees, intended to carry out an infiltration for terrorist purposes.”
The ministry said that “assault rifles, handguns, handcrafted explosive devices (Molotov cocktails), bulletproof vests, telescopic lookers and camouflage uniforms” were found.
Seven of the men have been identified, the ministry said, while work continues to confirm the identities of the remaining three.
The list included Amijail Sánchez González, Leordan Enrique Cruz Gómez, Conrado Galindo Sariol, José Manuel Rodríguez Castelló, Cristian Ernesto Acosta Guevara and Roberto Azcorra Consuegra.
Among the deceased was Michel Ortega Casanova.
“All participants are Cubans living in the United States,” the ministry said, adding that, “most have a known history of criminal and violent activity.”
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It specifically named Amijail Sánchez González and Leordan Enrique Cruz Gómez as being on the National List of persons and entities that, by virtue of Resolution 1373 of the United Nations Security Council, international law and the Cuban legal system.
“They have been subjected to criminal investigations and are sought by the Cuban authorities, based on their involvement in the promotion, planning, organization, financing, support or commission of actions materialized in the national territory or in other countries, based on acts of terrorism,” the ministry said.
The ministry also said that Duniel Hernández Santos had “confessed to his actions.”
According to data retrieved by Fox News Digital, the vessel, registered in Florida with number FL7726SH — is a 24-foot Pro-Line boat.
A source told Fox News that the Florida Department of Law Enforcement contacted the Miami-based owner, who confirmed the vessel had been docked at a marina in the Florida Keys.
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After being notified by authorities, the owner — who is not considered a suspect — reported the boat stolen.
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier also announced on X that he had directed the Office of Statewide Prosecution to work with federal, state and local law enforcement partners to start an investigation.
In his statement, Uthmeier said the Cuban government “cannot be trusted” and vowed that his office would “do everything in our power to hold these communists accountable.”
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The incident happened while Secretary of State Marco Rubio was in the Caribbean for a summit of the Caribbean Community, or CARICOM, in Saint Kitts and Nevis.
Rubio was meeting regional leaders for closed-door talks on security, economic cooperation and shared concerns about U.S. policies in the hemisphere.
Later Wednesday, he told reporters that the U.S. was not going to base conclusions on “what they’ve told us,” before adding that it would “respond appropriately based on what that information tells us.”
“We don’t generally make decisions in the United States on the basis of what the Cuban authorities are saying,” Rubio clarified.
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Referring to the details already supplied by Cuba, Rubio said they were “the things we’re going to we’re going to independently verify.”
Meanwhile, Rep. Carlos Gimenez, R-Fla., called for an “immediate investigation” Wednesday in a statement.
“I am calling for an immediate investigation into this massacre. United States authorities must determine whether any of the victims were U.S. citizens or legal residents and establish exactly what occurred,” Gimenez said.
“The regime in Cuba must be relegated to the dustbin of history for its countless crimes against humanity,” he added.
Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., said he agreed with Rep. Carlos Gimenez, writing on X: “We need a full investigation into this deeply concerning situation and to determine what happened. The Communist Cuban regime must be held accountable!”
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Vice President JD Vance also said he was briefed by Rubio regarding the Cuba situation but indicated that details remain limited.
“We don’t know a lot of details,” Vance told reporters before adding that the administration is closely monitoring the situation.
“Certainly, you know, it’s a situation that we’re monitoring. Hopefully it’s not as bad as we fear it could be, but I can’t say more because I just don’t know more,” Vance said.
